Archive for category: Sports

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Using Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from Exploitation

Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from ExploitationFootball has long been known as the game of the people, bringing joy to millions of watchers and players in all corners of the world. Still, perhaps it is less clear how the Homeless World Cup Foundation used football to protect vulnerable women from exploitation. Alongside the FIFA Foundation, the Homeless World Cup Foundation launched the Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from Exploitation program in partnership with four African countries that deal with extreme poverty (Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia). Alongside fun football training and competitions, they developed tools to support women recovering from, or at risk of, exploitation.

Homeless World Cup

Poverty and football are complexly and deeply entangled. As an accessible game for most people, football holds great power as a catalyst for social change with grassroots programmes creating jobs and opportunities, developing vocational and life skills and empowering marginalised groups through social cohesion.

The Homeless World Cup has one vision –  to create a world in which homelessness does not exist. According to the U.N., there are more than 1.8 billion people who lack suitable housing worldwide, despite it being a human right. Through both its one-of-a-kind Homeless World Cup tournaments and by delivering year-round programs in 75 countries, they help to achieve their mission by helping players into stable housing, education programs, and employment.

Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from Exploitation Project

The FIFA Foundation and the Homeless World Cup Foundation recognized the transformative power of football to protect vulnerable women from exploitation and create safer communities. They partnered with four Homeless World Cup countries to develop and implement a curriculum of both football and non-football related activities: Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Programs in each country have used the power of sports to focus on and improve on local issues. The overall project had several goals:

  • Identifying vulnerable women who are recovering from or are at current risk of exploitation
  • Creating safe spaces for these women, both on and off the pitch, and ensuring close ties to local women’s shelters
  • Engaging women in training sessions, including football, coaching, safeguarding, women’s empowerment, and vocational skills to improve employment prospects
  • Supporting and guiding these vulnerable women to productive, tangible and sustainable alternatives to exploitation and out of homelessness and poverty
  • Targeting young men on and off the pitch to develop positive masculinities in an effort to promote equality between men and women
  • Hosting and delivering women’s tournaments; the first Africa Women’s Cup happened in Tanzania in 2024, and the second in Kenya in 2025

Kenya

Around 45% of the Kenyan population lives below the global poverty rate of $3.00 a day. Additionally, around 1.4 million Kenyans live with HIV. As such, the partnership between the FIFA Foundation, the Homeless World Cup Foundation and Vijana Amani Pamoja (a football club formed in 2003 in an area of Kenya with a high rate of HIV), this project to use football to protect vulnerable women also had a large focus on sexual reproductive health and rights for girls and young women. Young women and girls who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation due to poverty and inadequate housing are at an increased risk of HIV, which makes this project all the more important.

Tanzania

Despite seeing significant growth in their economy and a major reduction in poverty since 2000, the poverty rate remains high, with around 29 million people still living in poverty, and 3 million houses are necessary to address the current shelter shortage. Gender-based violence remains a large issue in Tanzania; around 10%, or 2 million, girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation despite the law prohibiting it on girls under the age of 18. Consequently, the project to use football to protect vulnerable women from exploitation in Tanzania focuses largely on tackling gender-based violence to ensure sustainable and safe social development for young people.

Zambia

An astonishing 71% of the Zambian population lives below the poverty line, making it one of the poorest countries in the world. There has been a rapid rate of urbanisation with ‘higher’ paid jobs concentrating in urban areas; there remains a 1.3 million urban housing unit deficit. Zambia’s project partner is Bauleni United Sports Academy, which focuses on children and young people aged 6 to 20 who struggle with poor economic situations and social injustices. They provide resources and facilitate opportunities for 10,000 children to access high-quality sports programmes for positive impacts that last a lifetime.

Zimbabwe

Approximately 9.9 million people live on less than $4.20 a day, and around one in five people live in slums with limited access to water and electricity. Partnering with the FIFA Foundation and the Homeless World Cup Foundation, Zimbabwe’s Young Achievement Sports for Development is a community-based organisation that uses football and education to reach young people and help increase their confidence and prevent substance abuse.

Project Outcomes

This partnership and project have already helped and empowered many girls and women throughout the four partner countries through football and wider initiatives. Sport and football are powerful and effective transformative forces, helping create safer communities by protecting vulnerable women and girls from exploitation. Football and this initiative are far more than a game, but a lifeline for so many experiencing social injustices such as poverty and gender-based violence.

– Stephanie Gable

Stephanie is based in Wales, U K and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Using Bikes To Fight Poverty in Mexico City

Poverty in Mexico CityMany people associate bikes with an expensive international sport that is growing in popularity. With professional cyclists gaining attention on social media and brands using aggressive marketing, cycling is often seen as an exclusive activity for those who can afford it. In major cities around the world, it has become a strong attraction for sports enthusiasts.

In the United States, for example, a record 112 million Americans rode a bike at least once in 2024. Bikes and cycling can positively impact millions of people worldwide, especially in densely populated urban areas. One key example is Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. 

In recent weeks, it officially became the largest metropolitan area in North America, with an estimated population of 25.6 million. That status brings major challenges, including urban poverty, inequality and rising pollution. Bicycles, however, have the potential to help address these issues. Through bike-share programs across the city, Mexico is using bikes to fight poverty, inequality and climate challenges.

Shared Mobility Services

Bikes can help address pollution and transportation affordability in urban areas. As more people migrate to cities, carbon emissions have continued to rise. Emissions from transportation, especially in cities, account for 22% of global fuel emissions. In response, many cities are turning to shared mobility services that reduce emissions by lowering the number of vehicles on the road. 

These services not only cut pollution in densely populated areas, but also give people more ways to reach their destinations without relying on a single mode of transport. These programs allow low-income households and individuals to move faster and more cheaply across the city, freeing some of their income to spend on other priorities. Bike-share programs are one form of shared mobility service being implemented worldwide to fight poverty. 

Major cities in Colombia, Mexico and Brazil have introduced bike-share programs for their populations. American cities like New York City and more than 150 European cities have also implemented similar programs. Although these initiatives continue to face regulatory and other challenges, there is a clear global shift toward supporting their success. 

Mexico City is leading such efforts in Latin America. It has the largest program in the region, “with [more than] 6,000 bikes and a competitive ride-hailing market with an estimated 200,000-plus drivers.”

Poverty in Mexico City

Although the government has worked over the last two decades to fight poverty across the country, poverty and inequality continue to plague Mexico City. The biggest challenge within the capital is inequality, with the “richest 1% of the population [owning] 40% of the country’s wealth, while nearly 19 million people struggle to put food on the table.” This is not new for residents, but it has worsened in recent years. 

For instance, “Mexico’s 22 billionaires have seen their fortunes double in the last five years,” while the average Mexican citizen has not seen proportional growth in economic status. Inequality within the city is evident in its real estate and housing environment. Those who are wealthy “have been very effective at isolating themselves from the rest of the country,” living in luxury apartments in the heart of Mexico City, where more economic opportunities are available. 

On the contrary, those with lower incomes are “relegated to sprawling cinder-block slums” located far from those opportunities. As a result, commuting to and from work is often costly and inefficient for low-income families. During an interview with Lucia Margarita Vazquez Alcantara, a resident of Mexico City for the last 40 years, she expressed frustration with the cost of gasoline for her car and taxis. 

“It is impossible to afford gas if you want to go anywhere in the city,” she stated. The distance and cost of transportation place a heavy burden on lower-income families in Mexico City, making it harder to escape cycles of poverty or afford basic necessities.

Bike-Share Programs in Mexico City

Bike-share programs offer an effective and environmentally friendly solution to reduce transportation costs in Mexico City and help lower-income families travel to their places of work. Ecobici is the city’s official bike-share program, allowing users to “take a bicycle from any cycle station and return it to the nearest one to their destinations in unlimited 45-minute rides.” If users wish to use it longer, they can pay for an affordable $32 subscription. 

This program shows how Mexico is actively using bikes to fight poverty. Women in particular are benefiting greatly from the Ecobici program in Mexico City. In urban areas, women often have “less access to quick and reliable transportation” and tend to make trips with multiple purposes.

The bike-share program improves mobility across the city and women have “gained a cheap, efficient and flexible mode of transportation.” Since its implementation, Ecobici has increased women’s bicycle use in the city from 10% to 38%. “I am too old to be riding bicycles, but now some of my friends’ daughters use them to get to work or go to ‘la tienda’ (grocery store) when needed,” said Alcantara. 

She added that although she does not ride bikes, she has seen tangible changes in Mexico City. The sky is clearer, pollution is lower and she sees more people smiling instead of yelling at each other behind the wheel.

Beyond their economic benefits, biking is growing in popularity among Mexico’s population. Monica Castilla, a hotel cook in the Zona Rosa area of Mexico City, expressed her preference for riding her bike over driving a car or taking the bus. “You get the stress out. You [get] exercise. And it’s faster,” she said. Mexico has 250 miles of bike lanes and “closes major avenues in the city center every Sunday” so cyclists can use them recreationally.

Conclusion

Bike-share programs are proving that simple transportation solutions can create real social change. In Mexico City, initiatives like Ecobici are reducing travel costs, expanding mobility for low-income families, supporting women’s independence and helping cut urban pollution. As the city continues to grow, Mexico is showing how two wheels can help move people closer to economic opportunity and a better quality of life.

– Rodrigo Salgado

Rodrigois based in Boulder, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Running Programs Are Reducing Poverty in Kenya

Poverty in KenyaRunning has always been a big part of life in Kenya, especially in rural areas, where long-distance running is just part of the culture. But over time, it has become more than just a sport. For many people, it has become a real opportunity and, in some cases, a way out of poverty in Kenya.

In places like Iten, often called the “home of champions,” runners train every day, hoping to compete at a higher level. What is different now is that there are more structured programs and training camps that actually support these athletes and give them a better chance of succeeding.

Running as a Pathway Out of Poverty

For many athletes, running starts simply. It is just part of daily life. But with the right support, it can lead to real opportunities. Training programs can provide coaching, meals and even housing, which helps take some of the financial pressure off.

One example is Kenya Experience, a program that allows runners to live and train in a high-performance environment alongside other athletes. It connects runners with experienced coaches, structured training and exposure to international competitions, which many would not otherwise have access to. Programs like this make a difference by allowing athletes to focus more on training and less on everyday struggles.

Over time, this can lead to opportunities such as competing in major races, earning prize money or even securing sponsorships.

Opportunities Beyond the Track

Success in running not only benefits the athlete. When runners begin to earn money from competitions or sponsorships, they often use that income to support their families. In many cases, one successful runner can help pay for school fees, housing and basic needs for several people.

So it is not just one person benefiting. It can impact an entire household and sometimes even an entire community. Running also creates opportunities beyond just competing.

Coaches, trainers and even local businesses benefit from the presence of training camps and athletes. Places like Iten have seen growth partly because of the running culture there.

Why Kenya Stands Out

Kenya has become one of the most successful countries in long-distance running and that success has helped build a system around the sport. Young athletes grow up seeing people from similar backgrounds succeed, which makes it feel more realistic. There are also more camps and programs now than before, which means more access to training and support.

Not everyone will become a professional runner, obviously, but the chance alone can change how people think about their future.

Looking Ahead

Running is not a complete solution to poverty in Kenya, but it does help create opportunities. For people in areas with limited job options, it can offer a different path. As more programs continue to grow and connect athletes to greater opportunities, running will likely remain an important part of economic growth in certain communities. It is not perfect, but for many people, it is a start.

– Aaron Scott

Aaron is based in Charlotte, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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ANTA – How a sportswear company combined Sports and Poverty

antaSports have been a fundamental activity that brings communities and entire countries together. Sports have such a positive impact that the United Nations declared April 6 as the official International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Playing any sport not only contributes to a healthy and fulfilling life, but it also has the unique capacity to “foster connection, inclusion, and peace in an increasingly fragmented world.” ANTA, one of the largest athletic apparel companies in the world, has taken this meaning to another level by combining sports and poverty and expanding its agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support thousands of displaced children across Africa.

About ANTA

ANTA is a sportswear company, founded in 1991 by Chinese entrepreneur Ding Shizhong in Fujian, China. Although this company started as a small regional sportswear maker, ANTA has grown and become one of the largest and most important sportswear companies in the world. As of 2024, ANTA is the largest sportswear company in China and the third largest in the world, with a reported revenue of $9.8 billion in 2024. With more than “13,000 stores across all its brands and [employing] about 65,500 employees,” ANTA has worked to expand beyond China and have an impact worldwide.

Combining Sports and Poverty

Beyond their revenue and their growth, ANTA is a company that focuses on “contributing to global humanitarian assistance,” as Lai Shixian, Executive Director and Co-CEO, stated. With this mission in mind, ANTA entered an official partnership with UNHCR in 2023 to reach 300,000 displaced children worldwide. Over the last two years, ANTA provided $1.5 million in financial support and 1.2 million pieces of sporting apparel and equipment to displaced youth,” to children in Burundi, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

The Impacts

ANTA’s contributions to UNHCR and global humanitarian assistance have been fundamental to assisting children who have been forcibly displaced across the globe, especially in Africa. Private partnerships similar to this one facilitate international organizations to provide humanitarian assistance and relieve poverty. ANTA’s partnerships has allowed the UNHCR to maintain “refugee classrooms open during crisis by funding teachers and providing learning materials,” giving children the opportunity to access education and succeed in the future. Furthermore, Vice President of ANTA, Christina Li, emphasized how sports can be used as a tool to foster “inclusion and resilience,” creating hope for children and families experiencing displacement.

As the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace approaches, it is important to analyze how sports and poverty can go hand-in-hand. As sportswear companies continue to grow and develop, they can continue to contribute to global humanitarian assistance and change the lives of thousands of individuals, similar to Anta’s partnership with UNHCR.

– Rodrigo Salgado

Rodrigo is based in Boulder, CO, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Yoga Alleviates Poverty in Africa

Yoga Alleviates Poverty in AfricaAfrica faces a deep employment crisis shaped not only by unemployment but also by low wages, irregular work and a lack of labor protections. For many families, work exists, but stability does not. In response, an unlikely tool is emerging: yoga.

Communities and organizations now adapt yoga, once associated mainly with wellness studios in the Global North, into skills-based programs that generate income, create employment and build economic resilience in vulnerable communities. Yoga alleviates poverty in Africa by addressing the barriers that prevent people from securing stable livelihoods.

Africa’s Employment Crisis

Africa’s unemployment rate, at 7.9%, exceeds the global rate of 5.6%. Within the region, Northern Africa has the world’s highest unemployment rate (11.7%) and sub-Saharan Africa’s rate (7.2%) is also above the world average. 

Although unemployment rates remain high, they capture only one dimension of Africa’s employment crisis. In many countries, such as South Africa and Eswatini, the prevalence of low wages, casual and irregular work, uncertain hours and a lack of workplace protections prevents employment from guaranteeing economic security. This structural challenge leaves millions working without stability or a reliable pathway out of poverty.

Young people feel this crisis most sharply. African youth aged 15-35 have extremely high unemployment rates: 33% in Egypt, 43% in Mali and 54.2% in South Africa. Many analysts attribute these figures to a youth skills deficit, which drives structural unemployment and underemployment.

Africa Yoga Project

Africa Yoga Project (AYP) educates, empowers and expands employability among African youth through yoga-based training programs. Its mission is to create opportunities for young people to become self-sustaining leaders within their communities by combining physical and mental well-being with practical, income-generating skills. AYP offers yoga teacher training, leadership development and mentorship programs that equip participants with marketable skills to earn a living.

Graduates work as yoga instructors, often teaching in schools or online since the COVID-19 pandemic. These opportunities are particularly significant in regions where formal employment is limited and youth unemployment remains high. By transforming yoga into a viable livelihood, AYP addresses both economic insecurity and community well-being.

Its programs demonstrate how yoga alleviates poverty in Africa by developing skills and improving mental health, resilience and social cohesion in underserved communities.

Project Air

Project Air shows how yoga can support poverty alleviation by meeting people where they are, emotionally, physically and socially. The initiative works with HIV-positive survivors of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, many of whom carry deep trauma that makes daily life and economic participation feel out of reach. Through gentle, trauma-informed yoga, Project Air helps participants rebuild strength, regulate stress and reconnect with their bodies in ways that support stability and self-reliance.

By working alongside local survivor associations, the Rwandan Ministry of Health and UNICEF, Project Air creates safe, supportive spaces rooted in trust and community. The program also provides food, clothing and shared care, easing daily pressures so women and children can focus on healing and rebuilding their futures. These practical and emotional supports allow participants to reengage with their communities and begin imagining long-term livelihood opportunities.

As the first yoga initiative to receive United Nations (U.N.) endorsement, Project Air illustrates how yoga alleviates poverty in Africa by restoring dignity, well-being and economic participation in post-conflict societies. For some participants, the most profound outcome was simple but transformative: they slept peacefully for the first time since the genocide.

Yoga as a Tool for Poverty Reduction

The work of initiatives such as AYP and Project Air shows that poverty reduction in Africa requires more than job creation alone. By addressing skills gaps, trauma and mental well-being, yoga-based programs remove barriers that prevent young people and survivors of conflict from fully participating in economic life. While yoga does not replace large-scale employment policy, these community-led efforts demonstrate how low-cost, integrated interventions can build resilience and self-reliance.

Together, they show how yoga alleviates poverty in Africa by linking well-being with economic empowerment and placing human dignity at the center of development.

– Iona Gethin

Iona is based in Exeter, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Leveling the Playing Field: Fighting Poverty in Burkina Faso

Poverty in burkina fasoAny keen soccer fans across the world will likely have heard of players such as Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, one of the most highly regarded defenders in Europe. Premier League supporters will be aware of Brentford player Dango Ouattara, who made waves with Bournemouth. Athletics fans will know triple jumper Huges Fabrice Zango, a historic figure in his home country. However, the country that produced these athletes is less well-known.

Burkina Faso is a country in the volatile Sahel region of Africa, grappling with extreme levels of multidimensional poverty. In 2023, the poverty rate was marginally under 26%, with 2.3 million people experiencing food insecurity.  Sport often acts as both a unifying and a divisive arena, but sport in Burkina Faso is emerging as a vital route to escape poverty through increasingly varied employment paths. NGO activity in the country has used sport to foster entrepreneurial spirit and most importantly, bring security and joy to a generation looking for a better life.

Sport Overpowering Security Challenges

A key source of poverty challenges in Burkina Faso is regional instability, which insurgency groups spreading terror across the country further exacerbate. Terrorist groups control swathes of the Sahel region, disrupting the vital agriculture sector in Burkina Faso, in addition to inducing mass internal displacement of Burkinabe residents, which has contributed to extremely high poverty rates.

Sport has found a way to improve this situation. The Olympic Refuge Foundation created the RESPECT campaign, a Sport for Protection program which focuses its efforts on internally displaced Burkinabe residents and refugees, aiming to enhance the resilience, skillset and self-sufficiency of 11,520 young people whose lives have been disrupted.

The RESPECT campaign promotes core values of peace and security through its programs to cultivate a welfare-focused, psychologically healthy environment, ensuring that young people in the program can use sport to enact change and improve their psychological skillset alongside their physical skillset. Furthermore, it undergoes advocacy work promoting Sport for Protection approaches for adoption at the central government and municipal level, which allows for social integration and more facilities available for impoverished young people to realise their talents.

Sport Becoming a Source of Employment

Young people are increasingly entering the world of sporting entrepreneurship, helping them to become more financially independent. Whilst sporting enterprises typically encompass smaller businesses, the average age of these entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso is 37, illustrating the upward mobility and dynamism that the sporting industry offers young people in Burkina Faso.

Procuring funding from central government and other institutions is a major obstacle for these sporting enterprises, but with the support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the PADEJ-MR is supporting young, aspirational individuals in rural areas with financial training and personalized coaching to instigate business plans in key growth drivers. The focus on young people from rural backgrounds and coordination with the Ministry of Sport and Employment indicate that sport in Burkina Faso will continue to represent a viable route away from poverty.

Sport as “Edutainment”

Sport-for-development initiatives are not just crucial for stimulating employment or fostering psychological wellbeing, but stimulating educational experiences. Othman Mezouar has led numerous sporting initiatives in Burkina Faso designed to improve youth engagement through combining fun sporting activity with learning key life skills and literacy.

Hence, the principle of “edutainment”, where the confluence of vital education and sporting entertainment facilitates young people’s academic and physical development, and these programmes led by Mezouar have helped to reduce dropout rates, strengthening the future employability of young people through maintaining their core education.

The Future

Burkina Faso is still facing extreme poverty struggles and regional factors are causing relentless instability and internal displacement. Sport in Burkina Faso has already proven its potential, though. Vital NGO activity provides a safeguard for displaced Burkinabe to participate in physical activity, promoting key characteristics such as self-sufficiency and resilience. Whilst more centralized support is needed, the growth of the sport sector demonstrates the feasible path to employment for young Burkinabe people, who look up to their heroes like Tapsoba, or Zango, but can also look to themselves for inspiration.

– Oscar McClintock

Oscar is based in Cambridge, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Instituto Charles do Bronx: Giving Back to the Favelas

Instituto Charles do BronxDays before UFC 274, Charles Oliveira da Silva, known to millions as “Do Bronx,” stepped on the scale ahead of his highly anticipated bout against Justin Gaethje. He needed to make the 155-pound limit for the lightweight division, a challenge that had plagued him throughout his career. Oliveira missed weight by half a pound, costing him his title.

The fight went ahead, but only Gaethje was eligible to claim the belt. The setback proved temporary. In Phoenix, Arizona, after being rocked early, Oliveira locked Gaethje in a chokehold to reclaim the championship. The crowd erupted, but the biggest reaction came from his home Protégées commentary team when Gaethje finally tapped out.

Growing Up in the Favelas

UFC 274 wasn’t the only pause in Do Bronx’s journey, which is marked by highs and lows. Growing up in the favelas of Brazil, Oliveira has become a symbol of resilience and a hometown hero. He earned his nickname, “Do Bronx,” from the area where he grew up in São Paulo, Brazil.

Oliveira also faced a major setback at age 7, when he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and a heart murmur—conditions that doctors warned could leave him paraplegic. But with the support of his family, who sold snacks and cardboard to fund his training, Oliveira defied the odds. He started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) at age 12. Da Silva would turn to BJJ to escape the violence and for a sense of community at home.

“That was my mother’s concern,” Oliveira said. “I lost friends to crime—unfortunately, some died, others are in prison. I still know people who live that life; they chose it. But thanks to my mother, I chose the right path. We chose the right side, all my family, my brothers.”

Even against doctors’ advice, Oliveira kept participating in activities despite his medical condition. In an interview with ESPN, Oliveira described continuing his BJJ journey despite his medical conditions: “If it is God’s will for me to die, then I will die,” he stated.

Oliveira continued to pursue what he loved, becoming an inspiration to the people of Brazil, the same community he would give back to at the peak of his career. He has become a catalyst for supporting communities and helping people in need around the world.

The Rise of Do Bronx

Oliveira’s UFC career began in 2010. Over the next decade, he would become one of the most decorated fighters in the sport, with 16 submission wins, 20 finishes and 20 performance bonuses. Oliveira’s early UFC career was far from smooth. Multiple losses and ongoing weight-cut issues stalled his progress. But then, everything clicked. Starting in 2018, he went on an 11-fight winning streak until 2022. The highlight of this streak came in 2021, when he claimed the vacant lightweight title with a victory over Michael Chandler.

Oliveira earned the nickname “Do Bronx” after his hometown in Brazil. The name translates to “from the Bronx” and is a mark of honor for someone who grew up in the Brazilian favelas. For him, “Do Bronx” became more than a nickname; it was a calling, a symbol of pride and a way to represent his community. “A kid who came from nothing, from the bottom, from the favelas, disparaged,” said Oliveira. “That’s what ‘Do Bronx’ means to me. A kid who came from the favela to win.”

Instituto Charles do Bronx

Despite global fame, Oliveira never forgot his roots. In 2012, he founded the Instituto Charles do Bronx in his hometown. The institute offers free jiu-jitsu classes, education and mentorship to underprivileged youth, many of whom face the same challenges he once did.

The institute has served more than 150 young people and continues to grow. In 2023, Oliveira expanded the facility to include sign language classes and academic tutoring. His efforts earned him the 2025 UFC Forrest Griffin Community Award, personally selected by UFC CEO Dana White.

“[Oliveira] is not only a great athlete, he’s an amazing role model who enjoys giving back to the community,” White said. “It’s an honor to present him with his award.” This isn’t the only way da Silva has given back to his community. A heartwarming moment unfolded in his hometown shortly after his UFC 256 victory. Da Silva returned to his hometown to distribute meal kits to residents, many of whom had been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During this pandemic, y’all know several families struggled,” Oliveira tweeted. “Today, I had the opportunity of donating food to the Prainha community. If you can, please help those who need help. Small efforts can generate huge impacts. Give it a try.”

The Champ Will Forever Have a Name

Oliveira’s impact goes beyond charity and the Instituto Charles do Bronx. He’s currently the subject of a biopic in development by 405 Films, which will chronicle his rise from the favelas to UFC glory. In April 2025, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his fighting prowess and humanitarian work.

Now at 35 years old, coming off a knockout loss for the lightweight belt, Oliveira is preparing for another comeback fight at UFC Rio against Rafael Fiziev, a homecoming in a way for the only “Do Bronx.” Whether or not he reclaims the lightweight title before his career ends, Oliveira has already won something far greater: the hearts of his people and a legacy in giving back that will inspire generations.

– Dylan Fly

Dylan is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Shred the Patriarchy: The Janwaar Skate Troupe That Fights Back

Shred the PatriarchyChantal Pinzi, an Italian-born, Berlin-based photographer, has recently won the Sony World Photography Awards with her project “Shred The Patriarchy.” The project centralizes the burgeoning female-centred skateboarding community in the village of Janwaar, Madhya Pradesh, India.

The Cultural Landscape that Shred The Patriarchy Exists In

As in Western nations, skateboarding is a sport primarily dominated by men and boys; as it stands, the Indian gender ratio of men to women in skateboarding is 95% to 5%. This gender disparity is only heightened by the cultural stereotypes placed upon Indian women; they are expected to be homemakers, often forced into arranged marriages. From there, they will be the primary caregiver of a husband and children, having little time for their hobbies or interests. This is the tradition; this is the life that many Indian women have come to expect. However, many do not have it.

From the anger of a sexist patriarchal society stemmed resistance. In 2023, The Guardian spoke to female Mumbai and Pune skaters about their experience engaging with the sport in the current cultural landscape. Above all, an impenetrable bond exists between the women in these communities; due to a lack of female skateboarding instructors, these troupes teach one another and collectively improve their skills. This supportive environment has greatly fostered the female skateboarding scene’s growth in India.

What Does Shred The Patriarchy Do?

Highlighting the resistance and resilience of Janwaar women was Pinzi’s paramount goal with Shred The Patriarchy. In April 2025, Pinzi told World Skate that she has “always tried to understand and challenge the structures of power, oppression, sexism and misogyny. Choosing to focus on women skaters is part of that commitment. [She sees] it as both a form of resistance and a responsibility.”

Pinzi’s collection of photographs for the project is utterly iconoclastic. With each photo, the stereotypical ideal of what an Indian woman is or should be, is fragmented until it is entirely shattered. Pinzi highlights young women, primarily in traditional kurtis or sari dresses, engaging in anything but traditional activities. Some shots capture the subject mid-way through a skate trick, while others capture women alone or in a company, holding their boards as if the object were a lifeline.

While most subjects can be seen in traditional Indian dress, more commonly worn khussa shoes are exchanged for worn trainers, like Vans or Converse, which are much more appropriate for the sporting activity. Sometimes, these women do not comply with the customs: in one shot, a young subject poses clad in a Jim Morrison t-shirt, black trousers and trainers. These women are, one custom at a time, fighting back.

Conclusion

Due to resistant factions, like the Janwaar women learning to skate, sociocultural change is being pushed in India. In Western nations, the idea that a woman might be unable to do something as simple as skateboarding with her friends seems absurd. For millions of Indian women, however, this is reality; they are denied the basic right to live in communities that nurture their interests. However, with the rise to prominence of these troupes via projects like Shred The Patriarchy, widespread acceptance of broken gender norms is one step closer.

– Sarina Maloy

Sarina is based in Bath, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Pedaling to Prosperity: African Cyclists

Africa's cyclistsIn 2024, Biniam Girmay, the Eritrean cyclist, won several stages of the Tour de France; this was the first occurrence of a black rider winning a segment of the race. Further, this was the first time an African obtained the prestige of wearing a green jersey during any tour. In addition, Rwanda is to host the 2025 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Road World Championships, another remarkable development in Africa’s series of firsts.

Racing is making substantial strides for inclusivity, diversity and multilateral cooperation. The inclusion of the African market benefits both the sport and the continent, which is now a great opportunity for material advancement and international investment.

The First Few Stages

The globalization of cycling is accompanying the inevitable march of progress. As companies, ideologies and values leak across the globe, the sport of cycling is pedaling into the limelight; meter by meter, creeping into the center of cultural exchange. The notoriety began in 2022, when Girmay won a stage at the prestigious Giro d’Italia and thrust Black Africans into the center of cycling. Over the past several years, Girmay has remained a successful sprinter, securing various victories across various races and stages.

His acumen was reaffirmed in 2024, with his green jersey, during the Tour de France. Girmay initiated an organized effort from the UCI to breach the African market and has remained an inspiration for many African cyclists. About the state of the presence of African cyclists, Girmay said, “It’s really good for the impact, a good vision for young talent, because if you work on that, especially in the European teams, if they invest a lot in African cycling for sure we can have a more global sport. And that’s always nice to see.”

Pushing Forward

Since then, the UCI has initiated establishing a training center for aspiring Black African cyclists. More than 10 to Brittany, France, to train for future competitions; the athletes originate from many countries, each representing their distinct cultures on the European roads. The aspiration of the program, endorsed by both the UCI and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is to have local athletes excel in the regional Kigali championship. As such, they have been targeting young riders, hoping that, in two years, sundry successful characters will graduate from this program. The project began in 2023, hoping to prepare a generation of people capable of shining during the Rwandan competition.

The aforementioned World Championship in Kigali, Rwanda, is the axis for this whole affair. Announced in 2024, during the Zurich Championship, the monumental decision possesses the potency to establish a robust cycling community in Africa. With, on average, 124 countries broadcasting the race and more than 330 million viewers, this event is phenomenal exposure for the region.

The Last Few Stages

The tournament itself provides the potency for a thriving tourist industry. Any single international event unleashes a myriad of positive, economy-stimulating effects. This venture hopes to both inspire local athletes and expose the world to Rwanda. With each cyclist, a team, along with several fans and mechanics, will follow in tandem. These individuals will be exposed to the sprawling hills, vibrant grass and vivid culture.

This affair is an opportunity for Rwanda’s tourism industry to thrive, not only for the tenure of the competition but also for the residual effects of exposure. With this, faculties and institutions of commerce will be erected, providing adequate edifices for the constituents to operate, interact with and purchase from. For comparison, there was a 4.8% increase in foreign tourists during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

As for the athletes themselves, with the introduction of an additional sports industry, more aspirants will have the opportunity to be sponsored. While it is difficult to establish oneself in a sport requiring substantial infrastructure, heroes grant locals international exposure, thereby revitalizing the sport and the residents. Further, there is debate regarding “muscle drain,” or the impact of physically capable laborers leaving their respective nations for better opportunities.

Despite all of this, professional athletes are given the ability to return to their respective communities with connections and wealth. Potentially inspiring a new generation of athletes, all of whom can escape poverty by being thrust into the limelight. An amalgam of the aforementioned themes is present in Kenya, wherein the town of Eldoret benefited from the reinvestment of the country’s professional athletes.

The Finish Line

The finish line has yet to be crossed and many countries still suffer from poverty. However, as the bike pedals forward, the checkered line becomes more perceptible. The competition, the athletes-in-training and the current stars all provide distinct chances for prosperity.

Progress induced by globalism establishes the possibility of flourishing tourism and hospitality industries and reinvestment from athletes. As the line draws near, the glistening prospect of wealth becomes palpable. The internationalism of cycling is beneficial for the sport, as an abstraction and for the people.

– Jackson Hufman

Jackson is based in Glenwood, MD, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Global Programs Are Using Sports To Fight Poverty

Using Sports To Fight PovertySports have been used as a catalyst for change in deprived areas most affected by poverty worldwide. From skateboards rolling through Kabul to boxing gloves pounding bags in Rio’s favelas, community-based sports programs prove that sports are more than entertainment.

Afghanistan: Skateistan Turns Skate Parks Into Schools

In a country where 1.4 million girls remain banned from school, Skateistan offers an alternative route back into learning. Its Back-to-School and Skate & Create classes reached 7,405 children in 2023, 58% of whom are girls.

Private, girls-only sessions sidestep cultural barriers and the organization’s female coaches provide rare role models. Beyond boards and ramps, students receive tutoring, hot meals and vocational workshops. One hundred twenty young women graduated from a tailoring course that supplies equipment to earn an income at home.

By blending sports, arts and accelerated schooling, Skateistan protects at-risk youth from labor and early marriage while nurturing the literacy and confidence needed to re-enter the formal system.

Brazil: Fight for Peace Takes a Smart Swing at Youth Unemployment

Brazil’s “youth bulge” is a double-edged sword: in 2021, 26.8% of 18-to 24-year-olds were unemployed. In Rio’s Complexo da Maré favela, Fight for Peace transforms boxing’s tough-gym stereotype into a five-pillar program focused on sports, education, employability, mentoring and youth leadership.

The charity’s latest impact report shows 1,326 young people enrolled in employability or education projects in 2023, while 1,144 accessed services at its London academy alone, evidence of a model now being replicated worldwide.

Vocational courses, from web design to reception skills, link directly to job placements, while micro-grants totaling more than $50,000 funded youth-led safety and enterprise projects in east London and Kingston, Jamaica. By pairing ringside discipline with formal training, Fight for Peace addresses the dual challenges of violence and joblessness that keep many Brazilian adolescents trapped in poverty.

Ethiopia: Girls Gotta Run Races Against Child Marriage

Early marriage still affects 40% of Ethiopian girls before age 18, undermining their education and future earnings. Girls Gotta Run counters this trajectory with distance-running scholarships, including school fees, daily coaching, life-skills clubs and mothers’ savings groups.

The logic is simple: keeping girls in class reduces the likelihood of marriage by 6% for every additional year of secondary education. Meanwhile, entrepreneurship workshops and seed capital help mothers grow family income, cutting the economic incentive to marry daughters early.

By integrating sports, finance and reproductive health education, the nonprofit builds a supportive ecosystem where adolescent girls can literally and figuratively outrun the pressures that curtail their futures.

Nigeria: Chess in Slums Africa Makes a Smart Move Against Exclusion

Nigeria’s youth face formidable odds: 7.2% unemployment rate among 15- to 24-year-olds and 62% of the population under 25. In Lagos’s Makoko settlement, Chess in Slums Africa trades footballs for boards and pieces to deliver cognitive training, scholarships and even healthcare. Since 2018, the project has secured lifelong scholarships for more than 200 children from informal settlements.

In 2023, it partnered with Health Insured Nigeria to provide free screenings and insurance enrollment for 400 families, underscoring how a sports setting can broker services beyond recreation.

Conclusion

Sports alone won’t solve poverty, but these stories show what’s possible when used with purpose. From skateparks to running tracks, well-designed programs are turning play into progress, connecting young people to schools, jobs and health care. The scale of the challenge is huge, but every scholarship won, job landed or early marriage prevented is a small victory against inequality, one push, punch, stride or move at a time.

– James Harwood

James is based in England, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr